---
name: "Ngila Dickson"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ngila-dickson"
fi1m_id: "ngila-dickson"
imdb_id: "nm0225699"
tmdb_id: 1322
wikidata_id: "Q455394"
roles: ["Costume designer"]
born: "1 January 1958"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-10-05T02:47:48.513792+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ngila Dickson

## Identity

Ngila Dickson

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ngila-dickson
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ngila-dickson
- **IMDb ID:** nm0225699
- **TMDB ID:** 1322
- **Wikidata ID:** Q455394
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngila_Dickson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q455394, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0225699/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1322

Costume designer. Born 1 January 1958 in Dunedin, New Zealand.

## Details

- **Work:** Costume designer
- **Born:** 1 January 1958, Dunedin, New Zealand
- **Active:** 1994–present
- **Frequently works with:** [Fran Walsh](https://film.one/person/fran-walsh.md), [Peter Jackson](https://film.one/person/peter-jackson.md), [Barrie M. Osborne](https://film.one/person/barrie-m-osborne.md), [Elijah Wood](https://film.one/person/elijah-wood.md), [Ian McKellen](https://film.one/person/ian-mckellen.md), [Philippa Boyens](https://film.one/person/philippa-boyens.md), [Richard Taylor](https://film.one/person/richard-taylor.md), [Sean Astin](https://film.one/person/sean-astin.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won · 1 nominated)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 84 (1), 2000s 84 (4), 2010s 61 (1), 2020s 54 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 70 across 8 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Genres:** Action 7, Adventure 5, Fantasy 5, Drama 2, Science Fiction 2, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 20 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $3,923m across 8 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngila_Dickson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q455394, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0225699/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1322

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King*](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-return-of-the-king.md) (88), [*The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers*](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers.md) (85), [*Predator: Badlands*](https://film.one/film/predator-badlands.md) (70), [*Madame Web*](https://film.one/film/madame-web.md) (38)
- **HBO Max:** [*The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring*](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-fellowship-of-the-ring.md) (90), [*The Last Samurai*](https://film.one/film/the-last-samurai.md) (72)
- **Apple TV:** [*Terminator: Dark Fate*](https://film.one/film/terminator-dark-fate.md) (61)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Ngila Dickson is a New Zealand costume designer. Born in Dunedin in 1958, she trained in fashion and worked as a magazine editor and stylist before entering film and television.

She first gained prominence designing costumes for the television series *Hercules: The Legendary Journeys* and *Xena: Warrior Princess*. Dickson collaborated with Richard Taylor on Peter Jackson's *The Lord of the Rings* trilogy (2001–2003), sharing an Academy Award for Best Costume Design for *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King* (2003) and a BAFTA Award for *The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers* (2002). She received further Academy Award nominations for *The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring* (2001) and *The Last Samurai* (2003).

Dickson was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2004 for services to design and the film industry. Her later credits include *Blood Diamond* (2006), *Green Lantern* (2011), *Terminator: Dark Fate* (2019), *Madame Web* (2024) and *Predator: Badlands* (2025).

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, ngiladickson.com, nzonscreen.com.*

## On Fi1m (8)

- *Predator: Badlands* (2025), Fi1m 70, Costume design, Costume Design — [page](https://film.one/film/predator-badlands.md)
- *Madame Web* (2024), Fi1m 38, Costume Design, Costume design — [page](https://film.one/film/madame-web.md)
- *Terminator: Dark Fate* (2019), Fi1m 61, Costume design — [page](https://film.one/film/terminator-dark-fate.md)
- *The Last Samurai* (2003), Fi1m 72, Costume design — [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-samurai.md)
- *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King* (2003), Fi1m 88, Costume Design, Costume design — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-return-of-the-king.md)
- *The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers* (2002), Fi1m 85, Costume Design, Costume design — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers.md)
- *The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring* (2001), Fi1m 90, Costume Design, Costume design — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-fellowship-of-the-ring.md)
- *Heavenly Creatures* (1994), Fi1m 84, Costume Design, Costume design — [page](https://film.one/film/heavenly-creatures.md)

## Complete filmography (29)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Predator: Badlands* (2025), Costume Design — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/predator-badlands.md)
- *Long Distance* (2024), Costume Design
- *Madame Web* (2024), Costume Design — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/madame-web.md)
- *Peter Pan & Wendy* (2023), Costume Design
- *Terminator: Dark Fate* (2019), Costume Design — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/terminator-dark-fate.md)
- *Asura* (2018), Costume Design
- *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny* (2016), Costume Design
- *Dracula Untold* (2014), Costume Design
- *Emperor* (2012), Costume Design
- *Mr. Pip* (2012), Costume Design
- *Green Lantern* (2011), Costume Design
- *The International* (2009), Costume Design
- *Fool's Gold* (2008), Costume Designer
- *Blood Diamond* (2006), Costume Design
- *The Illusionist* (2006), Costume Design
- *Without a Paddle* (2004), Costume Design
- *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King* (2003), Costume Design — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-return-of-the-king.md)
- *The Last Samurai* (2003), Costume Design — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-samurai.md)
- *The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers* (2002), Costume Design — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-two-towers.md)
- *Superfire* (2002), Costume Design
- *The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring* (2001), Costume Design — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-fellowship-of-the-ring.md)
- *Young Hercules* (1998), Costume Design
- *The Rainbow Warrior* (1997), Costume Design
- *Hercules: The Legendary Journeys* (1995), series, Costume Designer
- *Heavenly Creatures* (1994), Costume Design — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/heavenly-creatures.md)
- *Jack Be Nimble* (1993), Costume Design
- *My Grandpa Is a Vampire* (1992), Costume Designer
- *User Friendly* (1990), Costume Designer
- *Strange Behavior* (1981), as Dancer at Party

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- 2004: Best Costume Design (won), for *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King*
- 2002: Best Costume Design (nominated), for *The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring*

### Other awards — 1 won

- Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit 2004: Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ngila-dickson